Kirkland was beaten by Butterfield’s long-range effort that hit both posts and crossed the line before it was scooped back by the Wednesday keeper.

Assistant ref Paul Hodskinson was unmoved - and rubbed salt in the wounds by flagging for a late handball by Dean Whitehead that saw the Boro man sent off as substitute Atdhe Nuhiu hit a dramatic winner from the penalty spot.

Their slim play-off hopes were ended by a seventh game without a win, and defender Kenneth Omeruo said: “We all knew it was over the line, and when their keeper even admits to it going in that just makes it more frustrating.

“Making it into the play-offs is a tough ask but we won’t give up the fight. There are a lot of good players in this squad and I’m sure once we get that first goal we’ll start finding the net regularly.”

Nuhiu stepped up to send Tomas Mejias the wrong way to settle a contest to forget from the spot with a cool finish as Wednesday snapped a three-game home losing streak.

“It was a goal, it was miles over the line. I knew straight away and so did the Boro players”

Chris Kirkland

It was tough on Boro’s on-loan Real Madrid keeper Tomas Mejias, who stood out on debut with fine second-half saves to thwart Sam Hutchinson and Giles Coke.

That was in addition to a full-stretch block to prevent Nathan Chalobah heading into his own net.

Stuart Gray was frustrated the controversy surrounding Butterfield’s strike that never was overshadowed what was a vital win for his side, who climbed 12 points clear of the danger after looking set for the drop before Christmas.

The Owls manager said: “You can put everything to bed if you’ve got goal-line technology. The linesman’s had enough time to make the decision because it’s hit both posts. He’s in the right place to make the decision.

“We’re sat here talking about it again and it’s easily sorted with goal-line technology, because it takes away the guess work and gives clarity.”